Just Some Thoughts

After reading about the scientific community after World War 1 and participating in the subsequent class discussion, I am a little confused. I can understand why portions the scientific community had wanted to exclude German scientists from post-war activities. Science created the mechanisms of war that caused the large loss of life, poison gas, improved artillery, tanks, and aircraft. To prevent countries from rearming its military, shunning that country's scientific community makes sense. The way through which the Allied powers sought to exclude the German scientists from the international community is what I find puzzling.

During the debate of whether German scientists should be allowed to participate in the scientific community two opportunities were missed to control scientific research in military weaponry. At issue for the Allied scientists was what measures should be taken to punish the German scientists for their actions during the war, and adhering to what is generally accepted among the scientific community that research should be shared among all scientists so that more is accomplished. I am curious whether a solution allowing German scientists to remain amongst the international community and open to interact with other scientists on various projects, but were excluded from participating in any research into military technologies. Germany could still do scientific research for military purposes, but was prohibited from receiving any international research that could be used for military reasons. I am just curious as to whether such a solution was put forth.

To take it one step further, given the destruction of World War I, was there ever a major push for an international moratorium on scientific research for military purposes? In retrospect it is difficult to determine what kind of effect such a ban would have been. On the one hand the development of newer, deadlier, weapons would be minimal. Yet, at the same time categorizing what is for military reasons and what is not would be a difficult decision to make (airplanes for example are for military and commercial purposes). Would we not have airplanes if there was such a ban on scientific military research? Not to mention the difficulty of enforcement. Just an interesting point I was thinking about doing the reading and wondering if it was ever considered.